How to Chip from Tight Lies - Chipping Drills

[@arlenedeardorff7207]

I watch all of Todd’s videos. So helpful!

[@USGOLFTVshow]

We appreciate the support! What video have you found most helpful?

[@jimsibson137]

Great tips! the butt end of the club closer to your torso is a MAGIC! I've never heard that before and it's literally a game changer. Thank you for posting this Todd! Keep up the great work.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Don't give that one away for free...LOL

[@therevolvingmonk]

The more I play, the less useful I find wedges to be for the short game. Still use them on approach shots, out of bunkers, or to pop the ball up if I need to. 8i-PW are the safest clubs to use around the green in my short experience golfing. I'll use the 8i if it's a longer chip shot and/or if I want the ball to run. 9i from the longer grass around the fringe and/or if I need a little bit of run. PW from the fringe and/or if I want the ball to not run much. I just kinda go by feel as far as club selection from just off the green. Thanks for the advice on the move with the butt end of the club when swinging through! I've been doing what you said NOT to do. Sucks we're coming to the end of this season already. This is my first year back playing the game after 20+ years and you've been a great help. Made my goal of breaking 100 on the local par 72 muni and had a round on the 9 hole par 3 course where I reached 4 GIR in a row from my tee shots and went +5 for the round. Great to feel like I did something productive over the summer and I owe it to channels like this.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Post of the day! Appreciate you giving us some credit for your progress. You are on the right track. More great content coming 👊

[@johno9209]

That was one of the best chipping instruction videos ever!! Thank you!!

[@USGOLFTVshow]

John, appreciate the kind words! These shots become manageable once we understand what to do. What other topics would you like to see us cover?

[@johno9209]

@@USGOLFTVshow What can we learn from the Stack and Tilt Method to improve our ball striking? Thanks again Todd - you are the MAN!!

[@USGOLFTVshow]

@@johno9209 Great idea, we will do a video on that topic. There are some solid fundamentals in Stack and Tilt for the average player. Will pass along to our content team. Thanks.

[@angelaamoroso3279]

Totally agree! Who would have thought! :-)

[@USMC262JIM]

Thanks for a great video. You do an awesome job explaining all of the details that make the shot a success. Looking forward to using the drill to improve my scores.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Be sure to let us know how it goes! Hope you subscribed 👍

[@paulbartling8441]

Todd, thanks a bunch. Been playing this shot wrong for about 60 years.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Paul, never too late to improve my friend. 👊

[@allanpatrick4105]

Great tips Todd. Thanks! I'm a 67 year old retired surgeon from New Brunswick Canada, and have been working on your VLS over the winter. Like the simplified swing and have much better feel for the positions now. Thanks!

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Fantastic! We do also offer online coaching if your are interested in personal development of your game.

[@allanpatrick4105]

@@USGOLFTVshow Thanks! Once the season starts I'll certainly take you up on the offer. For all the studying I've done, books I've read, lessons taken, the VLS is so simple nd makes so much sense. So many fewer moving parts to go wrong. A great book and swing method.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

@@allanpatrick4105 thank you...simple, yet not easy is always better than complicated and hard.

[@craiggray4255]

So helpful for this San Antonio golf.

[@ralphkellar2742]

Great video.Watched early this morning. Saved 4 strokes todays game. Thanks

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Let's go!

[@leewallace842]

Great video. Can’t wait to get out and try. Thanks Todd.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

This is one of our all time best tips IMO. Thanks!

[@danieldurant7081]

Nicely done, Todd. Great video tip

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Glad you liked it!

[@bryankem2192]

Good tips on chipping. Will definitely practice those in my next range session.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Be sure to let us know how it goes....

[@viewcamper1]

Great video tip Todd. It works! This is why I am subscribed "with the bell rung"

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Thanks for the sub!

[@Nick-kq2sw]

Really looking forward to trying this. The challenge for me has been hitting off lies that are essentially dirt with speckles of grass - basically bare lies. I suppose the tips you provided apply for these as well. One mistake I've been making (that you mention in your video) is that I've been leaning the club forward, which is probably why I chunk it more than I'd like. I also use my 58 probably too often. Question for you... what's the rationale for NOT using the 58 degree club? EDIT: I just jumped on the course and tried your tips with my 54 degree wedge... wow. At first, I wasn't concerned with distance, I just wanted to see it pop up a bit without any chunking. I hit probably 20 balls from around the green - many over a trap, some on really bare lies in the fairway. I would say 75% were very serviceable shots with only one or two chunking of the ball. The only time I hit a bad shot is when I started thinking too much about the club face being open and I didn't hit through (so the butt of the club pointed back at me), which resulted in a pushed shot to the right. I was starting to get really confident so I backed up to about 60 yards out (as these are my biggest challenges), trying the same thing but this time with my 58. I found the chunks coming back, even when I went down to my 54. When I hit a couple with my 49 degree wedge, much better, but they were lower flight shots than what I really wanted.

[@angelaamoroso3279]

Again an amazing tip. Duffing an "easy shot" like that has left me looking like one big red question mark. Red, because I am totally embarassed and super annoyed that i probably added an extra shot or three to that hole! BALL POSITION, CLUB SELECTION and of course that little magic tip about the handle of the club pointing inward. A cracked rib (yes, poor me) has keep me off the course the past couple of weeks, but I still manage to practice some short shots. Definately going to try this one along with the drill.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Angela, great to hear from you again....sorry about the injury...hope you are healing quickly and can get back on the links. This tip will help!

[@christopher419]

Great video and superb instruction! Thank you sir !

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Our pleasure!

[@krkr68]

Hi Todd, Thank you. How would approach say a 50-70 yard shot from the fairway with a thin lie with respect to ball position, club selection etc Kevin

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Great question, we just shot this video. Stay tuned and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it.

[@Nick-kq2sw]

@@USGOLFTVshow I looked for this video but can't find it as I too need some instruction on the 50-70 yard shots from thin or bare lies. I just subscribed to your channel but a link to that video would be greatly appreciated!

[@leemzgoogle917]

This is a good tip. I used to play my chip shots with forward shaft lean and it often lead to disaster. However, I'm more comfortable with using my SW and keeping the face square but I do everything else pretty much as you've described. The reason why I'd rather use the SW with a square face versus a PW with an open face is that, if I happen to not make a great stroke and I hit the ball thin, with the leading edge, the ball will still go straight, whereas, with the PW, the ball will scoot to the right, due to the open face. Just my 2 cents.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Solid post right here...

[@ralphbattista3356]

You’re very informative

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Thanks for watching!

[@davemurray9533]

Love this chipping tip! This is great, when you have room on the green. However, what would you do differently if you were short-sided or chipping from a tight lie to a green that is sloping away from you or scary fast?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

One of the toughest shots I golf. You can go to a little more lofted club and use the same concepts, just little margin for error. 👊

[@jmm1817]

Just my two cents what has helped me tremendously I go to my Approach or gap wedge I believe it's 49 loft I keep the club more straight up and stand over like a putting stroke choke down the club and putt it on the toe it keeps the ball as straight as an arrow you got much less room for air if you're an amateur golfer

[@robertmazzarachio7939]

Great video Todd , I’ve been using my 56 Sand wedge so I’m not sure I’m hitting incorrectly or I have the wrong club?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Yep!! Try a less lifter club and open the face.

[@robertmazzarachio7939]

@@USGOLFTVshow will do Todd since following you on KZbin I haven’t sliced the driver and am hitting my 6 Iron like I own it , I need improvement with the 3 wood 4&5 hybrids and the short game

[@USGOLFTVshow]

@@robertmazzarachio7939 Let's go!

[@stefanomaniscalchi4983]

from tight lies I use the hinge and hold method , which you stated it does not work , but in my case ( and in Phil case ) it works very well

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Lots of ways to make it work. Be careful to not get too much forward shaft lean, if so, the leading edge will dig.

[@dcornell250]

nice tip thank you. In your practice routine, you mention to use your dominant hand for it, I'm a left and my dominant hand is my right hand. Do I practice using my right hand? Thanks

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Good question, practice with your dominate hand even if it is the lead hand. May also want to experiment with the trail hand as well.

[@creamabdul-jabbar6722]

Take 2 clubs with you to the shot I usually pull a 60 and a 52. I don’t use a pw because I have a hybrid pw it’s perfect for me on par 3s so I won’t change it. I have thought about carrying 2 pw for this though and doing away with something at the top of the bag. I have a 3 hybrid and a 5-6 wood both serve their purpose for me so it’s a tough decision but I think just more time with the 52 for now

[@jimdingley565]

It works, like all of Todd's videos.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Awesome! What part did you find the most helpful?

[@jsant24]

I used this technique a few days ago and I chopped in a 15 yarder for a birdie and I almost made two more shorter chips with a pitching wedge. Great technique.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Let's go! We have this and other great shot game tips in our book, THE BAD LIE which you can find here www.badliegolfbook.com/

[@josealvarez9929]

Gracias por su labor Bendiciones amigo!

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Our pleasure!

[@jessegomez6134]

great lesson, some times I use a hybrid from tight lies. Have you used a hybrid? Senior Golfer in San Antonio Tx

[@USGOLFTVshow]

The hybrid is a great option...have you seen our new MaxVert hybrid vlsgolf.com/pages/vls-hybrid

[@patrickriley296]

Great info! I vary my chipping club depending on the ratio of flight to roll out. Do you like this approach for amateurs, or do you think it works better to master one chipping club for most chips?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Patrick, this is a great system and one we use often. In general, you are better off getting the ball on the green rolling as soon as possible...appreciate you posting.

[@thomasoddi6892]

Trying to visualize bounce. When you describe say a pitch shot from tight lie you say to open wedge and use bounce. With the club face open, I visualize the leading edge hitting the middle of the ball as the leading edge is so far off the ground at impact. This would cause a very thin hit. Maybe a slow motion shot using bounce as you say would help. Please advise. Thanks.

[@arnavmukherji6795]

Hi..Todd great drill.. what if the ball is behind a water body..or a bunker..how do you negate that..

[@USGOLFTVshow]

This is a challenging one, to hit a high soft shot off a tight lie is possible but requires real touch. Use the same suggestions here but use your LW...it can be done, but will require some practice.

[@rom-ol4wb]

love the video. question.. when would you use a 58 or 60 degree wedge?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

54 actually

[@joezaczyk2987]

I enjoy and benefit from your lessons. Thank you. One of my problems is foot alignment. In your chipping videos your feet seem to be aligned to the left of hole. Is this just a function of the angle of the video or are you in fact lining up left of the target when you chip? Thank you.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Joe, spot on my friend...we like a slight open stance for all chip shots and the lead toe flared open a little...great post!

[@KeepinItReal890]

awesome lesson

[@rickcudmore8156]

I could have used this tip this morning. Bladed my 54* 12* bounce sand wedge across the green from 10 yards off the green. I will try this tomorrow on the practice green.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Rick, this will help...be sure to let us know how it goes.

[@rickcudmore8156]

@@USGOLFTVshow I got to try this technique this morning and I had much better results. Didn't blade any shots and saved 2 pars with my approach.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

@@rickcudmore8156 awesome! Progress 👊

[@VegasHome2018]

Thanks for the great tip! I guess I have been doing wrong. For tight lie chip shots, I have used 9 iron and tried to avoid the bounce thinking that the bounce might cause to top the ball. I guess you use the bounce on tight lies also, right? Thanks.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

You are now ready to tackle this shot. 👊

[@justjames1111]

Like you content Todd, however I'm confused here. If we have a e.g 52 degree wedge why would you change that for a e.g 48 degree PW and open the face to 52 degrees? Why not just use the 52 degrees? Thanks

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Good question, by rotating the face slightly open you add bounce to the club. This is 🔑 for shots off tight lies

[@shermcutler537]

Rotating the face open changes the direction of the face are you now aiming left of the pin to compensate?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Yes, we promote a slight open stance for all chip shots.

[@KeepinItReal890]

dude you're amazing.

[@dinaashton5110]

Hi Tud, what is the difference between set up of wedges 58,54,50 and 52 ,56,60 wedges?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Good question, for chip shots the set up is the same. If you are hitting more full shots, it does vary. We have a full section in the latest book on the short game...IMO it is the best part of the book www.badliegolfbook.com/

[@billgilhooly5041]

I noticed you did not mention body position relative to the slope. Should the shoulders be parallel to the slope to also reduce chunking?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Bill, great eye, yes! The shoulder should match the slope line when possible.

[@mikewilliams2726]

I noticed in the video, when you said move the handle back, you did that prior to hitting but move it back to middle before you swung the club eliminating the move back?????

[@USGOLFTVshow]

These are general guidelines. The concept to takeaway is the hands are not ahead of the ball. 👊

[@michaelclifton7710]

Hey Todd, it's Michael from Alabama. The only shot I'm struggling with is a tight lie from off the green with not much green and downhill. For most part I play all hybrids and 52 gw hybrid is great except this shot. I have the dune and H7 and wondering if either of those would work

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Good question, the shot you reference is a tough one, no getting around it. The Dune would be your best bet off the tight lies.

[@michaelclifton7710]

@@USGOLFTVshow ok thanks. I will try it and let you know how it does

[@jjflash1645]

Very good video. The only problem I have is I tend to slice a lot. If I aim right won’t that increase my chances of slicing?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Jack, good question. Here is a more in depth video for you to watch kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKOwiWuomqabors

[@jjflash1645]

@@USGOLFTVshow Thank you for the information. I will definitely try this out and hopefully it will work.

[@54fighting5]

My chipping is horrendous and I've been watching a lot of videos to get an idea why. Yours are one of the very few that address grip and address, so thank you! However when you put your alignment stick down with instruction to have the ball centered between the heels, you then slightly adjust your feet to where the stick is almost touching your front heel. Is the stick positioned wrong... is it the camera angle... or are you actually placing the ball more forward than you think?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Great question, as a general rule, we like to see the ball in the center of the heals. The rod is used as a guide to reference that spot. Make sense?

[@54fighting5]

@@USGOLFTVshow Thanks for the reply. Yes your answer makes sense, as it is what you explained in the video. My question refers to what you actually DID in the video, which appeared to be placing the ball directly even with your front heel in the stance.

[@patten1962]

Does this change when it's tight and moist?

[@williamraper1191]

What about chipping from hard surface like packed sand please

[@USGOLFTVshow]

We cover this in our book, The Bad Lie. Here is the Amazon link if interested in learning www.badliegolfbook.com/

[@artsmith7918]

Or, you could use the Pharaoh Wedge that you were hawking a couple of weeks ago. LOL. BTW, I tried one and-surprise-I really like it. I use it when I can chip and up to about 80 yards out.

[@robertfranklin2639]

So, don’t use a 58 degree but do you recommend 54 or 48 degree wedge?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Yep, start with the pitching wedge and go from there.

[@ric6398]

What about using a 8 iron?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

8 iron or PW, both are good options.

[@HIblue187]

I use an 8 Iron and just let the club drop and the ball pops up and passes the rough and rolls out to the flag. For me, a de-lofted club works better. Thank you for sharing, Sir.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Solid advice there!

[@AlexK5912]

So why not just use the 58 and play the ball like you demonstrated with the PW?

[@dannyleblanc4980]

I agree, why not just hit the same shot with the 58?

[@jackking394]

The ball won’t run out as far with a 58. You need to fly the ball closer to the hole

[@briansurfer8625]

When I search chipping from tight lies I’m looking for basically concrete. lol.

[@anthonyat2401]

Been through every single chipping video and cure. I hit nice beautifully relaxed chips off tight lies. In the garden. On the course, I cannot bring myself to hit through the ball 80% of the time. A mental block becomes a physical barrier. It's extremely difficult to fix because it cannot be practised away. : ( I cannot see a solution... short of a Vulcan mind-meld.

[@jeffreycolvin9124]

I have the same issue. Been going on four years. I don’t think it can be fixed. I’ve tried everything and I mean everything. Playing in Florida now with extremely tight lies. Right wrist takes over at bottom with right shoulder tug. Wouldn’t wish this crap on anyone.

[@anthonyat2401]

@@jeffreycolvin9124 The good news is that it can be fixed - because, eventually, I solved it (after a very long trip through hell). I think the first step was to go with less loft (7 iron say), which changes the way you are playing the shot. Focus on the target and (easier said than done) keep the arm muscles relaxed in a slow swing, thinking about the finishing position and not the ball. Focusing generally in the swing area and not specifically at the ball also helps.

[@proddarunner]

I can't grasp the opening of the face. To me, my brain says, if you open the face (to the target) the ball should go to the right of the target when struck. Please explain this so it makes sense.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

A slight open face will cause the ball to work to the right, that is correct. We offset this with a slight left aim bias. The slight open face allows the club to not dig into the grass/grain. You can also try a hybrid for these lies if the situation allows.

[@Airbus320lover]

Thanks, Coach, for such a fantastic video. I'll be trying it at practice this coming week. I had no idea how to use my PW and open the face wow. I'm stunned. A lot of the greens on certain Dubai courses have extremely tight lies, and I normally use a 6i or my magic hybrid 😆. I'm excited to try this out, as it will be another shot in my arsenal. This game of golf is sooooooo tricky but wonderful.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

This is one of my all time favorite videos as it has some golden information. 👊

[@LennieSkoglund]

How about grip on tight lie?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Sometimes we will suggest using your putter grip, this can work for many of our students.

[@jeffreybogert519]

This is why I watch your videos over and over again, never saw anyone tell me to move the grip back on a flop shot, MAGIC! I am going to the garage and try it. My wife constantly gives me grief for watching so many videos but I tell her you can never learn less. Thank you for your great videos!

[@USGOLFTVshow]

We're going to have to steal that logic, you can never learn less is fantastic! Thanks for following our content Jeffrey, hope you subscribed! What other topic would you like to see us cover in the future?

[@jeffreybogert519]

@@USGOLFTVshow Being a golf instruction geek, I have too many swing thoughts in my head so I freeze before starting my swing. When I try to initiate my swing more quickly I tend to go too fast and end up casting the club, my best swing is when I start slower in the back swing, UGH.

[@briangraham1725]

Why not use a 60 degree and do a full swing? Or a 7 iron bump and run?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

A full swing is difficult from this lie as that big a motion requires great control. The 7 iron bump and run is ok if you open the face slightly.

[@nielsf2743]

Thin lies for us poor folk is like 75% bare dirt with a few tiny grass leaves poking out. The thin lie depicted on this video would be sheer luxury for us. I have no idea how to play our thin lies other than to putt. Which is fine unless there is a hazard between ball and green. Most of us simply don’t have that precise ball striking ability which pros do. Using any wedge on hard lies like ours has a good chance of a thin shot. All pros can hit beautifully lofted shots off even hard concrete, they forget that the rest of us desperados cant’t.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Great question!! We just shot a video on this last week. Coming out soon...be sure to subscribe so you do not miss it.

[@nielsf2743]

@@USGOLFTVshow been subscribed a long time now.

[@HiFi200]

Why not buy 15 degrees of loft widesole?

[@danmulholland7238]

Why do I skull these shots across the green?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Check your ball position so it is in the middle of the heals and rotate the face slightly open. Hope that helps…

[@WeimaranersAreTheBest]

So why not just own a 60 with 12-14 bounce?

[@suuduong3779]

👍

[@dwightbabcock5470]

I thought your sandwiches had more bounce than the pitching wedge. Why not open the sandwiches? Thanks

[@mgrassodirector]

Why don’t you open the face of the wedge?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

We like to have the face slightly open on all chip shots as it helps the club work through the turf. Here is a good video on that topic kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKXSZmp4ftSXaassi=ZQovH828yfSM6COl

[@soegengbasuki5320]

How you talk is like nicholas cage 😀

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Have not heard that one, LOL. He is a better actor but hopefully we are better at golf information!

[@patten1962]

Also, the same lie but now a pitch.

[@larrymorgan9486]

I would putt

[@USGOLFTVshow]

That is a good option if there is no long grass to navigate

[@arielluna4399]

👏👏👏👍

[@jakamar42]

Nice video, Except you shot 8n late afternoon. This made seeing the down the line view almost worthless. Please take this as constructive comment and refilm.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Appreciate the feedback. Understand.

[@FrankB69]

You call that a tight lie lol lol

[@abigroman]

What??? That’s a pitch shot. Lol

[@syoung3602]

That is not tight lie